Matamoras man found guilty of armed robberies

Monday

Nov 18, 2013 at 4:01 PM

Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin announced that a 22 year old man was found guilty of two robberies that occurred in Matamoras Borough in 2012, after a three day trial in Pike County Court.

Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin announced that a 22 year old man was found guilty of two robberies that occurred in Matamoras Borough in 2012, after a three day trial in Pike County Court. A Pike County Jury found Ian Maute, age 22, of Matamoras, guilty of two counts of Robbery, two counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking, two counts of Possessing an Instrument of Crime, two Counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two Counts of Simple Assault, one count of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Witness Intimidation, one count of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution and one count of Criminal Solicitation to Commit Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution. The jury found, on October 1, 2012, Maute entered Smoker's Paradise in Matamoras Borough wearing a hoodie, black pants, and a scarf coving his face, while holding a knife and a plastic bag. Maute pointed the knife at the victim and demanded money. The victim recognized the voice as a customer, and when Maute leaned over the scarf covering his face slid down. The victim was then able to make a positive identification to police. The jury also found on October 19, 2012, Maute entered Karen's Flea Market in Matamoras wearing identical clothing to the Smoker's Paradise robbery. Maute again entered with a plastic bag and knife. Maute pushed the victim to the ground and stood over her while he took money from the cash register. Witnesses saw Maute run down the street and enter a vehicle, which matched the description of a vehicle a police officer had seen Maute in earlier that day. Another officer was able to place the vehicle at Maute's residence. Police found the vehicle was registered to a Shohola man, who related to police that he was with Maute earlier that day and had dropped him off down the street from the store. He told police he circled the block and picked Maute back up and dropped him off at home. When Police showed the Shohola man the video of the robbery he was able to positively identify Maute, and that those were the clothes he was wearing when he dropped him off. With the assistance of investigators from the District Attorney's Office, Eastern Pike Regional obtained a search warrant of Maute's residence in Matamoras and located a black hoodie, sweat pants, black gloves, pair of sneakers and knife similar to that used in each robbery. Once Maute was under investigation, Maute told Paul Bertino that he needed to talk to a witness and have him take back his story. Maute asked Bertino on several occasions between October 26 and November 3, 2012 if he was able to talk to the witness, and have him change his story. Maute also asked Bertino if he knew what was taken from his house during the search warrant. He had Bertino go to his residence and search his closet to see what pair of sneakers the police took and to "get rid" of some evidence he would find. Bertino told Maute that the police seized the sneakers and there was no evidence left in his closet. Bertino previously entered a plea of guilty to Criminal Attempt to Commit Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a felony, for attempting to destroy evidence related to the robberies and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5, 2013. After the jury found Maute guilty, President Judge Joseph F. Kameen revoked his bail and remanded Maute to the Pike County Correctional Facility to await his sentencing on January 9, 2014. When sentenced, Maute faces a long prison sentence. District Attorney Raymond Tonkin said his office will ask for a long prison sentence when Maute is sentenced in January. Tonkin stated "Maute is a violent person and should be held accountable for terrorizing the victims and attempting to intimidate a witness."